Compartment-car.



No. 672,864. Pamn'fed Apr. 23, lsol.

J. B. sTnAuss. COMPABTMENT CAR.

(Application led Dec. 18, 1900.)

3 Sheets-Shest l.,

(lo Modal.)

No. 672,864. Patented Apr. 23, 90|...

J. B. STHAUSS.

CDMPARTMENT CAR.

(Application filed Dec.- 18, 1900.)

(No Ilodel.) 3 Shoots-Sheet 2.

Patented Apr. 23, |901.

' J. B. STHAUSS.

' CDHPHTMENT CAR.

(Appn t nldn 1s 1900) 3 Shaets--Shee 3.

(No Model.)

To all whom. it 'may concern.:

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JOSEPH B. STRAUSS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO EDWINB. TUTEUR, OF SAME PLACE.

ooMPARTMENT-CAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 672,864, dated April23, 1901.

Application filed December 13, 1900. Serial No. 39.601. (No model.)

Be it known that I, JOSEPH B. STRAUss, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Compartment-Cars, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in compartment-cars, and has forits object to provide a new and improved construction of thisdescription.

My invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein- Figurel is a cross-sectional view through a car provided with my invention.Fig. 2 is a section, with parts omitted, on line 2 2, Fig. l. Fig. 3 isa section on line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a side view of two sections ofthe partition between the berths, showing one manner of connecting thesections. Fig. 5 is a section online 5 5, Fig. l, with parts removed.Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the upper part of one of the seat-backs.Fig. 7 is a section on line 7 7, Fig. 2, with parts omitted. Fig.

8 is a section on line 8 8, Fig. 3. Fig. 9 is a sectional View showingone form of vfastening device for the adjustable partitions. Fig. 10 isa diagrammatic view showing an entire car with the top removed. Fig. 1lisa plan view, with parts broken away, of the connecting arrangementshown in Fig. 4..

Like letters refer to like parts throughout the several figures.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a car adapted to beused as a sleeping-car, which shall have a much larger nurnber of lowerberths than can be obtained by the present construction of such cars.

Another object of my invention is to provide a car with a series of whatmay be termed overlapping berths for sleeping purposes, so arranged thatthere will be practically a lower berth for each seat.

Another object of my invention is to provide a construction whereby eachseat, eX- cept, perhaps, the end seats, will act as aportion of twodistinct and separate berths.

My invention has also other objects,whi'ch will be hereinafterdescribed.

Referring now to the drawings, particularly Figs. l, 2, and 3, I haveshown a series of what may be termed diagonal partitions A, preferablyprovided at one or both ends with the angular part A. These partitionsmay be fixed; but I prefer to have them movable and adjustable. In thislatter case they will preferably be made up of pieces hinged togetherand movably supported at the side of the car. I have shown oneconstruction of this kind, wherein the angular parts A' are hinged tothe remaining portion of the partition and are movablysupported at theside of the car, so that the parts can be folded up, as shown, forexample, in Figs. l and 3. It is of course evident that any desiredconstruction may be used for this purpose, and I have simply illustrateda particular construction to make my invention clear. The end of thepartition, or, more properly speaking, the angular part A', is providedat the top and bottom with the projections A2. (See Figs. l and 8.)These projections engage grooves or the like A3 at -the side of the car,as shown, for example, in

Figs. l and 3. These grooves have a length preferably equal to the widthofthe angular part A', as shown. When it is desired to fold thepartition, these projections are moved to the ends of the grooves, thuspermitting the angular part A to be folded in against the side of thewall, as shown in Fig. 3. When the partition is to be used, theseprojections are moved toward the middle of the groove, as shown on theleft of Fig. 3, and the anglilar part A' and the rest of the partitionare held in place by fastening devices of any desired description. Asherein illustrated ,these fastening devices consist of pins A4. (SeeFigs. 1 and 9.) These pins are provided with actuating-springs and aresuitably attached to the partition. The ends of these pins pass intoholes A5, as shown in Fig. l. These holes are properly located tp holdthe partition in the desired position. In the daytime the partitions,when adjustable, are folded u p against the wall, as shown in Figs. land 2.

I have illustrated in Fig. ll one means of connecting the severalsections of the partition A together when made adjustable. In thisconstruction the edges of the sectionsare made rounding, as shown, and aloop or the like A7 connects them together. This connection may be madein any desired way, and a IOO suitable plate or shield A8 is connectedwith each section, the loop A7 being connected with said plates. It willbe seen that this construction permits the several sections to befolded, as shown on the left in Fig. 3.

When a car is provided with my invention, it may be divided otf intoseparate rooms or sections by drawing any two opposed partitions towardthe center aisle and connecting them, as shown, for example, at C, Fig.l0.

When it is desired to make up the berths, some means is provided forbridging the space between the seats. Any desired means for this purposemay be used, and I do not limit myself in this particular. As hereinillustrated the seat-backs are made detachable, and said seat-backs or apart thereof, when removed, are placed between the seats, so as tobridge the space between them.. If the entire seat-back is used tobridge the space between the seats, it is removably held in position inany desired manner, so that it may be readily taken from its support andplaced in position. I have illustrated in the drawings a constructionwhere only part of the seatback is used to bridge the space between theseats. In this construction the part B of the seat-back is removablyconnected to the supports B, and the remaining or top portion B2 isremovably connected to the part B. Any desired construction for thispurpose may be used. As illustrated in Figs. 2, 6, and 7, the part B ofthe back is provided on its edges with suitable grooves B3, into whichthe parts B4 of the seat-support fit. It will thus be seen that bylifting the portion B upward it can be removed from engagement with thissupport. The upper part B2 of the back, as shown in Fig. 6, is providedwith the springlatches B5, provided with projecting parts or pins B6,which fit into openings in the edges of the part B, as shown. It will beseen that by moving these latches outwardly the parts B2 can be releasedfrom the part B.

When the construction shown in Fig. 6 is used, some means must beprovided for properly caring for the part B2. Said parts may of coursebe placed in any position when the berth is made up, and I have shownone means of taking care of it. The device for this purpose consists ofa spring-roller B7, located above the seat-back, so as to be out of theway, and provided with a flexible part or curtain B8, having engagingdevices B9, adapted to engage the parts B10 on the seat-back. When it isdesired to make up the berth, the flexible curtain is pulled down andattached to the upper part of the seat-back and then moved upwardly,carrying the part B2 with it, said part taking the position shown on theleft in Fig. 2.

At the upper part of the car I provide a series of suitable receptaclesor lockers D for the bedding to be used in making up the berths, saidlockers being provided with suitable doors D. I also provide means forairing or Ventilating the bedding when in the lockers, which has beendivided out of this case, and for which I expect to make a divisionalapplication.

In order to provide the passenger with a convenient space to stand inwhile disrobing, I may construct the portion B of the back of the seatwhich spans the space between the seats so that it will leave suflicient standing room at the outer end. This may be accomplished in anydesired manner-as, for example, by making the portion B of the backshorter than the seats or by providing a removable or compressible orwhat maybe more properly called a displaceable part F', Fig. 6, whichcan be compressedor moved or otherwise displaced, so as to provide thespace indicated at F in Fig. 3. The passenger can then stand in thisspace and disrobe with convenience. It is of course evident that anydesired construction to produce this result may be used. In thepresentinstarice I have shown the part B of the seat-back as havingattached thereto the part F', the part B being connected tothe part B2on its upper edge by means of the pins F2. This part F is shown in itsproper position in dotted lines in Fig. 3. While the passenger isdisrobing it may be turned up on edge, as shown in full lines in saidfigure, the space between the full lines representing the face F3 of thepart F. As there is plenty of space above the seats, it will be seenthat the passenger can stand in this space and disrobe with convenience.

I have described in detail a particular construction embodying myinvention; but it is of course evident that the parts may be greatlyvaried in form, construction, and arrangement and that some of the partsmay be omitred and others used with' parts not herein shown withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention. I have only attempted to showa simpleand more or less diagrammatic construction which will make myinvention clear, and I therefore do not limit myself to the constructionshown.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows: In the day-timethe parts, the partitions A, and the seat-backs are in the positionshown on the right in Figs. l and 2. When it is desired to make up theberth, the seat-back is removed from its support and the portion Bplaced between the seats, as shown on the left of Figs. 2 and 3. Theupper part B2 of the seat-back is connected to a flexible curtain or thelike on the roller B and is moved up and supported, so as to be out ofthe way. The partitions are then pulled out and fastened in position, asshown in said Figs. 2 and 3. The proper bedding is then placed in theberth and it is ready to be occupied.

It will be seen that a part of each seat is used for two adjacent berthsand that a part of the device which spans the space between the seats isalso used as a part of two adjacent berths. When it is desired to takedown the berths, the bedding is placed in the lockers D, the partitionsfolded up, as shown on ICO IIO

the right of Figs. l and 3, and the seat-backs berths.

3. A compartment-car, comprising a series of adjustable diagonalpartitions, extending across the space above the seats so as to dividesaid space into a series of separate diagonal berths, said partitionsadapted to be moved so as to be out of the way when not in use.

4. A compartment-car, comprising a series of adjustable diagonalpartitions, extending across the space above the seats so as to dividesaid space into a series of separate diagonal berths, said partitionsattached at one end to the side of the car and adapted to be folded upout of the way, when not in use, each diagonal partition being providedwith an angular end piece, substantially as described.

5. A compartment-car, comprising a series 0f seats,having dividedremovable seat-backs, said backs adapted to be separated and one pieceplaced between the seats so as to span the space between them, and meansfor suspending the other piece from the top of the car.

6. A compartment-car, comprising a series of seats, having removableseat-backs, said backs adapted to be placed between the seats so as tospan the space between them, a series of adjustable diagonal partitionsadapted to be extended across said backs and seats so as to form aseries of independent diagonal berths, each partition provided at oneend with an angular piece connected with `the side of the car, and meansfor removably holding said diagonal partitions in place.

7. A compartment-car, provided with two sets of adjustable iiexiblepartitions pivotally connected to the side of the car, one set on eachside of the car, the opposite partitions adapted to be moved out acrossthe aisle and connected together so as to divide the car into separatecompartments.

v8. A compartment-car, comprising a series of seats, means for spanningthe space between the seats, a series of flexible partitions pivotallyconnected with the side of the car and adapted to be swung out into thespace above the seats, and means for fixing said partitions in adiagonal position across the seats so as to divide the space above theseats into a eries of separate berths..

9. A compartment-car, comprising a series of seats, removable backs forsaid seats,adapt ed when removed to span the space between them, eachback provided with a displaceable part, so that a portion of the spacebetween the seats will be left free'for standing room for the passengerwhile disrobing, and a series of diagonal partitions extending acrossthe space above said seats so as to divide it into independentcompartments.

10. A compartment-car, comprising seats having removable seat-backs,adapted to be removed so as to leave a free space above the seats, meansfor spanning the space between said seats, a series of diagonalpartitions extending across the space above said seats, so as to form aseries of separated sleepingberths.

l1. A compartment-car, comprising a series of seats, means for bridgingthe space between said seats, and a series of diagonal partitionsextending across the space above the seats, so as to form a series ofindependent compartments or berths.

JOSEPH B. STRAUSS.

Witnesses:

HOMER L. KRAFT, EDGAR L. CoNANT.

